Town attorney: No bias among police

Nanci G. Hutson

Updated 11:44 pm, Friday, June 22, 2012

NEW MILFORD -- The findings of a six-week investigation by the town attorney into allegations of racial discrimination by a black police officer determined there is no "express or unspoken" discrimination within the department.

From interviews with 23 police officers, as well as a former police officer, a state's attorney and other law enforcement officials, Town Attorney Randy DiBella said his inquiry determined that 14-year veteran Officer Ronald Young was not mistreated nor denied the chance for various assignments based on racial bias.

In May, Young filed a discrimination grievance with the union, as well as a similar complaint with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

More Information

Self-policing
Since 2009, the New Milford Police Department has conducted 14 internal investigations against 12 officers and dispatchers; all except Officer Ronald Young were white; two were female. The average investigation lasted four months.

Young, union President Jim Mullin, and the union's attorney John Walsh could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

"The evidence is clear and convincing, and the conclusion inescapable, that there are neither express nor unspoken race-based discriminatory attitudes, speech, patterns or practices in existence within the New Milford Police Department," DiBella said in the findings portion of an 11-page report delivered to Mayor Patricia Murphy's office on Friday.

Police Chief Shawn Boyne said he has not yet had a chance to review the report or discuss it with the mayor. But he said he has "utmost confidence'' in the town attorney's investigation and "whatever the findings, we will cooperate to make sure they are addressed. ... Any corrective measures he finds necessary will be taken."

"As usual, Randy did a thorough overview and came up with very pointed recommendations, and I'll take time to consider those recommendations," Murphy said, noting she was "100 positive" the allegations in the complaint were not true.

"Some (recommendations) can be implemented right away, and some might require a process," Murphy.

DiBella's recommendations include: mandatory diversity training; performance evaluations for all officers for the purposes of training and professional growth and not discipline; a supervisor/command mentoring and leadership development process, and inclusion of a sergeant or field training officer in command staff meetings.

"The command should reinforce and further define the chief's open-door policy," DiBella's report states.

Other than Young, DiBella said all officers and command staff have denied racial discrimination or harassment, and that "none will be tolerated.''

"It is also clear that an individual who would so engage in that type of conduct would be shunned and ostracized by the officers and likely dismissed by the command," DiBella wrote.

As for Young's allegation that he was unfairly discriminated against because he was not selected for an assignment to the detective bureau or as the school resource officer, DiBella said the detective choices were made by the chief, based on officers' performance and recommendations from other officers. The school resource officer decision was reached by a panel of four people from outside the department through an oral, ungraded exam and interview, DiBella said.

DiBella said the union contract does not require assignments to be awarded based on "seniority over proficiency."

Another complaint made by Young related to an internal investigation Boyne initiated over a call Young responded to in January. DiBella recommended that investigation be handled by an outside police agency to assure objectivity.

Prior to Young's filing the state complaint, DiBella said a union official informed Boyne the complaint would be dropped if the investigation was dismissed.

DiBella recommended that in the future, Boyne delegate internal investigations to his deputy and other investigatory personnel.

As for the allegation that demeaning, discriminatory remarks were made against Young, who on occasion was referred to as "Black Ron,'' as there are two other police officers with the same first name, DiBella said there was no malicious intent. Young even engaged in similar banter, he said.

"Several officers describe the agency as a family, and although some expressed disappointment regarding the handling of specific matters, NMPD effectiveness is high and continues to solidify and improve," DiBella wrote.

All officers, including Young, "expressed justifiable pride at being members of the department."